The Commonwealth’s Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, has announced the appointment of Professor Ibrahim Gambari as her Special Adviser on Political Dialogue to support the Electoral Commission of Zambia ahead of the country’s general elections and referendum, scheduled for 11 August 2016.

The appointment was made in consultation with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). Professor Gambari will support the ECZ in its efforts to enhance trust and promote a conducive and peaceful environment for the polls.

“The Commonwealth is committed to supporting peaceful, inclusive and credible democratic culture and processes. Professor Gambari will consult widely and work with the ECZ and other stakeholders to deepen our Commonwealth contribution towards these goals in Zambia, a country with a history of peaceful and well-conducted elections,” said the Secretary-General.

Professor Gambari has been Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, a senior United Nations diplomat and an international scholar. As a United Nations Under-Secretary-General he represented the UN in various positions of responsibility around the world. He has worked with heads of state and government, policy makers, political party leaders and regional institutions in Africa, including the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). With former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, he co-chairs the Commission on Global Security, Justice and Governance. Professor Gambari is also the founder and chairperson of the Savannah Centre in Abuja, Nigeria, a think-tank for research, training and public policy debate on the nexus between diplomatic conflict resolution, democracy and development in Africa.